* On October 7, 2014, BMS announced that given the rapidly evolving hepatitis C (HCV) treatment landscape in the U.S., the company has decided that it will not pursue FDA approval of the dual regimen of daclatasvir and asunaprevir for the treatment of HCV genotype 1b patients in the United States and has therefore withdrawn its new drug application (NDA) for asunaprevir, an NS3/4A protease inhibitor. The company will continue to pursue FDA approval of daclatasvir, a potent, pan-genotypic NS5A complex inhibitor (in vitro), which is currently being investigated globally in multiple treatment regimens for HCV patients with high unmet need. The dual regimen was developed to meet the distinct need of the Japanese patient population, and we believe this treatment has the potential to play a major role in curing HCV patients in Japan, as well as in other markets where the HCV patient population is similar to Japan. In the EU, daclatasvir was recently approved for use in combination with other medicinal products across genotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4 for the treatment of HCV infection in adults.

* On July 7, 2014, BMS announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has approved Daklinza®(daclatasvir), a potent, pan-genotypic NS5A replication complex inhibitor (in vitro), and Sunvepra® (asunaprevir), a NS3/4A protease inhibitor, providing a new treatment that can lead to cure for many patients in Japan who currently have no treatment options. The Daklinza+Sunvepra Dual Regimen is Japan’s first all-oral, interferon- and ribavirin-free treatment regimen for patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including those with compensated cirrhosis. The approval is supported by results from a Phase III study demonstrating that the 24-week regimen ofDaklinza and Sunvepra achieved overall SVR24 (sustained virologic response 24 weeks after the end of treatment; a functional cure) among 84.7% of Japanese HCV patients with genotype 1b. Among patients 65 years of age or older who were either interferon-ineligible or intolerant, 91.9% achieved SVR24. Further, patients with compensated cirrhosis present at baseline had overall SVR24 rates of 90.9%. The regimen used in the Phase III study resulted in low rates of discontinuation (5%) due to adverse events (AEs). In addition, the rate of serious adverse events (SAEs) was low (5.9%) and few SAEs were experienced by more than one patient. Nasopharyngitis was the most common AE in the study (30.2%).

* On April 7, 2014, BMS has announced that they have submitted new drug applications (NDAs) with the FDA for daclatasvir and asunaprevir. The data submitted in the NDAs support the use of DCV+ASV in patients with genotype 1b hepatitis C (HCV). The DCV NDA also seeks approval for use of this compound in combination with other agents for multiple genotypes. The submissions are subject to FDA review for acceptance for filing.These submissions follow the recent announcement that the FDA granted the investigational DCV Dual Regimen (DCV+ASV) Breakthrough Therapy Designation. In 2013, the investigational all-oral 3DAA Regimen (daclatasvir/asunaprevir/BMS-791325) also received Breakthrough Therapy Designation, and the company anticipates submitting this regimen for FDA review in Q1 2015.

* On February 24, 2014, BMS has announced that the FDA has granted its investigational DCV Dual Regimen (daclatasvir and asunaprevir) Breakthrough Therapy Designation for use as a combination therapy in the treatment of genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C infection. The designation is based on data from the company’s ongoing Phase III clinical trial program evaluating the all-oral combination regimen of DCV, an investigational NS5A replication complex inhibitor, and ASV, an investigational NS3 protease inhibitor, without ribavirin. New data from Bristol-Myers Squibb’s ongoing Phase III clinical program studying the DCV Dual Regimen is anticipated to be presented at an upcoming scientific forum. Data from a separate daclatasvir and asunaprevir Phase III trial in Japanese patients with HCV genotype 1b who were either interferon-ineligible/intolerant or non-responders (null and partial) to interferon-based therapies served as the basis for a regulatory filing in Japan in October 2013.